Celebrating a three-year partnership for Walk Green, BAPS Charities’ annual walkathon event, leaders from The Nature Conservancy gathered in Chino Hills, CA, to accept a contribution of $166,000 from BAPS Charities volunteers. In total, over the last three years, BAPS Charities contributed 300,000 trees to The Nature Conservancy’s goal of planting one billion trees by 2025.
This year over 23,000 walkers in 76 cities joined in raising support for The Nature Conservancy and BAPS Charities program initiatives. TNC staff and leaders attended several of these walks, educating walkers about the importance of environmental protection and the urgent need for all people to become active stewards of the environment. Walkers from all age groups joined in the spirit of service and community support to make each walk a great success.
BAPS Charities volunteers and board members presented The Nature Conservancy’s Chris Topik, Director of Plant a Billion Trees; Maria Fisher, Donor Stewardship Officer; and Erin Daly, Donor Relations Manager with the check which was followed by a tree-planting ceremony.
“Tree planting and reforestation are the most rewarding ways to improve wildlife habitats and cities, foster clean and abundant waters, and mitigate carbon emissions that cause climate change,” Chris noted during his visit to Chino Hills, “Thanks to the contribution of BAPS Charities volunteers we’ve been able to replant longleaf pine trees in the southern U.S., which have a natural resilience to catastrophic storms, but only 3% of this once common forest-type remains. Your support also planted thousands of shortleaf pine trees in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley where the land has witnessed mass deforestation due to agricultural overdevelopment. These newly planted trees create opportunities for carbon sequestration and improve lives.”
Erin Daly participated in the event for her third year in a row and remarked, “BAPS Charities volunteers have engaged the next generation of children and young people in passionate ownership of environmental stewardship, unlike any other organizations I have seen.”
BAPS Charities volunteers serve as a foundation for the future in advancing the spirit of service. Volunteers not only support events through service hours, but also invite others to learn about BAPS Charities’ five programmatic mission areas: environmental protection, health, education, youth development, and disaster relief. Working across these sectors, BAPS Charities is able to contribute to building strong and healthy communities around the globe.
